ADVERTORIAL
Paeroa Information Hub on Normanby Rd offers local activity information, bus ticket sales, AA services and houses the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Hauraki Rail Trail Trust.
Information officer Michael Tansey said the centre was rebuilding after the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“[Covid-19] killed us… but I’m very lucky I have a council that had enough foresight to understand that Covid, although it was an absolute nightmare, it wasn’t going to be here forever,” he said.
“It’s also given us the opportunity to look at ourselves and reassess and reprioritise what we’re doing.
“We’ve still got a way to go before we’re anywhere near to what we had prior to Covid, but we’ve got to thank our own local visitors from New Zealand that have really stepped up to the mark when we didn’t have overseas visitors.”
Michael said the hub was warmly welcoming the return of international visitors.
“It’s our job to be good hosts and to show people as much as possible,” he said.
“Our claim to fame now is the Hauraki Rail Trail and Paeroa in itself is becoming a destination.
“I have a group coming from Canada in February and they’re basing themselves in Paeroa purely for their ability to ride the rail trail.”
Michael also encouraged locals to continue visiting the centre for assistance.
“It’s the passion of the local people wanting to sell their local area that you’re not going to get from an online search,” he said.
“I would like as many people that are in Paeroa and the greater area to visit us and see what we’ve got, we’d like to be in a position to start offering local products to the local people.
“So if there’s people out there who are making things and would like an avenue to sell them, come in and talk to us.”
